0 responses to “Transit Investment Plan Meetings”

1. I’m there! IIRC, I’ve been going to at least one a year since 2001 (except for last year, when there were none).

   For those that don’t know, these meetings are great, since they’ll try to answer questions on just about anything TriMet-related.

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2. Not to be outdone by TriMet, Wilsonville’s SMART is also holding transit open houses this month, on the 19th and 27th:
   ridesmart.com/Index.aspx?page=18&recordid=47&returnURL=%2findex.aspx

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3. Well, I guess the only thing left is to bring the pom-poms and practice some cheers for the Milwaukie Lightboondoggle and the CRC extravaganza. Seriously, thanks for the heads up….

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4. Am I the only one that finds it rather peculiar that TriMet has chosen to host two of these three meetings (I guess you could call them the “neighborhood meetings”) in areas that are difficult to access with transit?

   Let’s take a look at the meeting at OIT in Milwaukie: Served by one bus (the 28 Linwood), for which only two trips (the 4:16 PM and 5:38 PM) from Clackamas Town Center and three trips (the 3:37 PM, 4:52 PM and 6:07 PM) from Milwaukie will get you there.

   Nevermind that Clackamas Town Center would be a far, far, FAR better choice and is more accessible, or possibly somewhere in Milwaukie given that there is a school close by to the transit center.

   Or in Tigard, at the Public Works Building, located off of the 76 line (or a good walk from the last 78 stop before the two lines split). However the 76 runs on a 30 minute schedule to the Public Works Building.

   Never mind that TriMet has office space right at the Tigard Transit Center, served by a frequent service bus (the 12). Or Washington Square, served by multiple bus stops (including both the 76 and 78, plus 43, 45, 56 and 62.)

   There are no such meetings in Gresham, East Portland, North Portland, Beaverton or Hillsboro.

   Nor have I seen anything posted on the busses to advertise any of these meetings…another peculiarity, as if TriMet is doing a “bare bones” job just to state they are doing public outreach, but intentionally doing only the minimum as to suppress any possible negative feedback that could be received. But TriMet has no problem advertising the “Portland Mall Event Series” on busses.

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5. Let’s take a look at the meeting at OIT in Milwaukie: Served by one bus

   While I agree that more accessible/suitable locations should have been chosen, the main entrance to OIT is only a quarter mile / 1300 feet from a sheltered bus stop on 82nd Ave., served by 4 lines: 29, 31, 79, 152. There is a continuous sidewalk from the bus stop to the OIT entrance.

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6. While I agree that more accessible/suitable locations should have been chosen, the main entrance to OIT is only a quarter mile / 1300 feet from a sheltered bus stop on 82nd Ave

   But TriMet’s own web page does not acknowledge these bus routes, because TriMet knows that a quarter of a mile is roughly the maximum that the average bus rider will (and should) walk to transit (ironically this fact is even published within the TIP.)

   Would you, as a transit advocate, actually encourage someone to have to walk across seven lanes of 82nd Avenue (that’s two through lanes, a left turn lane, a right turn lane, and a right turn/bus lane) to catch a return bus from a “transit improvement plan” meeting? That experience would in and of itself probably discourage a lot of transit use. Fortunately many people who use the 72 bus aren’t the ones that can/will attend a TIP meeting, and likely are not “choice” riders.

   TriMet could, as a compromise, offer a “VIP Shuttle” from Clackamas Town Center, but apparently “VIP Shuttles” are only used for “Westside Commuter Rail” celebrations that require the closure of the Tigard Transit Center to TriMet passengers (and the detour of multiple bus lines) so as to separate TriMet bus riders from politicans to promote rail service:

   http://www.trimet.org/news/releases/2006/commuterrailoct27.htm

   I don’t know…to me, a “very important person” should be ANY TriMet passenger.

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7. Would you, as a transit advocate, actually encourage someone to have to walk across seven lanes of 82nd Avenue (that’s two through lanes, a left turn lane, a right turn lane, and a right turn/bus lane) to catch a return bus from a “transit improvement plan” meeting?

   No. This is why I clearly stated that I agree that more accessible/suitable locations should have been chosen.

   Nonetheless, the bus stop at 82nd ave., wide as the street may be, is at a signalized intersection with a marked crosswalk.

   If crossing 82nd ave. at a signalized intersection is a significant burden to transit users, then what do you propose we do for riders of bus lines in general that on wide arterial streets and highways such as the #33, #12, etc.? Would median-style bus platforms (similar in configuration, say, to streetcar platforms on Harrison which still share with auto traffic), so that lane crossing are minimized and can occur in stages? Or would something more substantial like what Eugene has done with it’s busway be the way to go, or staggered center platforms with a dedicated transitway similar to MAX on Interstate Ave.? (And would you be advocating for reductions in the number of auto lanes in particular segments of highway corridors, such as portions of 82nd ave?)

   That experience would in and of itself probably discourage a lot of transit use.

   Perhaps, but it would also precipitate the kind of feedback to transit planners that I suspect you would want riders to voice, and they wouldn’t have to point too far for a concrete example.

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8. Incidentally, the TriMet trip planner, when I clicked on the link for the Tigard Public Works building defaulted to a maximum 1/2 mile walk and suggested I take the #12 bus and walk 0.3 miles to the location.

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9. Nonetheless, the bus stop at 82nd ave., wide as the street may be, is at a signalized intersection with a marked crosswalk.

   How much money was spent on MAX with access improvements to MAX platforms – including pedestrian overpasses, elevators, crosswalks (including pedestrian signals, overhead flashing beacons and signs), improved sidewalks (both installation of new sidewalks, and improving existing sidewalks)?

   How much money is spent on improving access to bus stops?

   TriMet needs to put the same amount of effort towards improving bus stops as it does MAX stops. That means improved shelters, sidewalks, crossings, signals, benches, Transit Tracker signs, etc.

   No, not every bus stop is going to have a full makeover, but a large number of them should. Especially on TriMet’s busiest bus route – one that operates now at a seven minute headway AND has a lower operating cost per passenger than MAX.

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